2008 IEEE Annual Election - Region 6

EDWARD G. PERKINS
(Nominated by Region 6)

Consultant
Tualatin, Oregon, USA
http://edperkins4r6.wikispaces.com/

Edward G. Perkins received the BSEE and MSCS degrees from Worcester Polytechnic Institute (WPI), and the MS ECE degree (2004) from Portland State University.

He currently consults in IT Governance, risk management and risk auditing; process automation; and technology documentation and holds a Certified Internal Auditor designation. He has over 30 years industry experience, in electronic design automation, program and project management, mixed-signal test development, design services management, chip architecture development, software development, and real time systems programming. He has worked as design services manager for a telecom start-up, as a program manager in the Virtual Test Division of IMS in Beaverton, Oregon, and 16 years at Digital Equipment Corporation, 10 years in the central engineering CAD department where he was responsible for management of CAE services and support to engineering groups worldwide and before that as principal software engineer in real-time operating systems.

IEEE Activities – (S’69-M’74-SM’02) COMMITTEES/BOARD: IEEE-USA Career and Workforce Policy Committee, Chair, 2007-08; Member, 2005-06; Corresponding Member, 2004; Career Issues Subcommittee, Chair, 2005-06; IEEE Admissions and Advancement Committee, Member, 2006-08. REGION: Region 6, Membership Development Committee, Chair, 2007-08; Co-Chair, 2005-06. COUNCIL: Central New England Council, Chair, 1986-87, 1993-94; Vice Chair, 1985-86, 1992-93; Secretary, 1984-85, 1991-92; Treasurer, 1983-84, 1990-91.  SECTIONS: Oregon Section, Chair, 2003-04; Vice Chair, 2001-02; Webmaster, 2004-07; Professional Activities Committees for Engineers (PACE), Chair, 2001-02, 2005-08; Education Committee, Chair, 2000-02; Worcester County Section, Chair, 1981-82; Secretary/Treasurer, 1986-93. CHAPTERS: Oregon Computer Society Chapter and Communications Society Chapter, Program Committee, Member, 2000-01, 2007-08; Worcester County Computer Society Chapter, Chair, 1981-82. CONFERENCES: OctoberBest, IEEE Seminars Program Chair, 2004-08; Northcon,Advisory Committee, Member, 2001; Board of Directors, 2000; Technical Applications Conference Program Chair, 1997, 1999; ELECTRO,Professional Program Committee, Member, 1988, 1990, 1992, 1994; ELECTRO Mini-Micro/Northeast, Program Chair, 1984, 1986; Professional Program Committee, Vice Chair, 1984, 1986. AWARDS: 2005 IEEE-USA Regional Professional Leadership Award; IEEE Third Millennium Medal, 2000; Northcon 97 Director’s Award, 1997.

IEEE Accomplishments – IEEE is a volunteer-driven organization. As a strong and accomplished volunteer leader, my 27 years of experience have focused on creating value for members, including:

• Produced continuing education courses on Bluetooth, IEEE 802.11, Project-level Risk Reduction, and Leadership for Oregon. 
• Piloted content management website with online IEEE credit card payment for Oregon. Lobbied IEEE to provide these services for Section events and meetings. IEEE is now taking steps in this direction. 
• Organized monthly PACE programs on topics such as job hunting, career management, marketing, outsourcing, leadership, and presentation skills. Received 2005 IEEE-USA Regional Professional Leadership Award. 
• Co-founded PacificNWTech Technology Career Fair, now held three times a year. 
• Worked with Membership Development counterparts from other Regions and Societies to improve IEEE membership. 
• Created one-day “Career Survival in the New Millennium”, seminar for IEEE-USA Career and Workforce Policy Committee (CWPC), dealing with globalization and the changing job market. Seminar has been hosted in cities where CWPC meets. 
• As CWPC chair, initiated development of IEEE-USA and SIA (Semiconductor Industry Association) joint letter to Congress supporting increased R&D funding and reforms to the EB (Green Card) visa system in lieu of importing more temporary workers.

Statement – I am honored to be nominated and look forward to serving as your Delegate-Elect/Director-Elect. Your Director will lead and manage the Region, serve on the IEEE-USA Board overseeing professional, career and public policy activities, and serve on the IEEE Board of Directors setting the course of the Institute. If elected, I will:

• Focus on member value, support local activities, and provide for members’ continuing education needs. 
• Actively support efforts to develop a yearly regional conference. 
• Use my experience with PACE and IEEE-USA to support members’ careers and employment opportunities. 
• Push for IEEE to enhance online services to deliver better programs to you, the members, especially those who are not able to attend meetings. 
• Coordinate efforts to identify and deliver affordable practical continuing education through your local Section or online. 
• Work to strengthen Industry Relations so IEEE membership is viewed as an asset. 
• Enhance public relations to improve engineering image, promote technological literacy in public schools, and ensure engineering continues to be a good career choice in the US.

Dean, College of Engineering and Computer Science
Professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering
California State University, Northridge
Northridge, California, USA
http://rameshfordirectorregion6.com

S. K. Ramesh has served the IEEE and Region 6 at several levels. At CSUN his vision and leadership have been instrumental in advancing the Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation and Center for Energy Research. He serves on numerous Boards emphasizing job creation and the growth of the high technology sector in the region. This includes the San Fernando Valley Engineers Council (www.sfvec.org), the Strategic Planning Council of CSUPERB (www.csuchico.edu/csuperb), SARTA (www.sarta.org), and McClellan Technology Incubator (www.mtisac.com). He chaired the Electrical Engineering department at California State University, Sacramento from 1994 to 2006 where he was President of the CSUS Sigma Xi Chapter and served on the Board of Capital Public Radio. His professional interests and contributions span Optical Engineering and Fiber Optic Communications. The NITT 2007 Distinguished Alumni Award (www.nitt.edu/home/icsr/alumni/daa2006-07/) recognized his contributions over 25 years. Dr. Ramesh received his PhD degree in 1986 from Southern Illinois University, Carbondale.

IEEE Activities – (S’79-S’84-M’85-S’85-M’86-SM’93) COMMITTEES/BOARD: IEEE Educational Activities Board (EAB), Operating Committee, Member, 2007-08; EAB Financial Committee, 2007-08. REGION: Region 6, Operating Committee, Member, 2001-04; Central Area, Chair, 2001-04; Awards Committee, Member, 2002-03; Central Area Student Activities, Chair, 1994-95, 1998-2000. SECTION: Sacramento Section, Chair, 1992-93; Vice-Chair, 1991-92; Secretary, 1990-91; Membership Development Committee, Chair, 1993-94; Student Activities Committee, Chair, 1993-2006; Section Executive Committee, Member, 1990-94, 2004-06. CHAPTER: Lasers and Electro-Optics Society (LEOS) Sacramento Chapter, Chair, 1989-92, 2004-06. STUDENT BRANCH: California State University, Sacramento, Student Branch Counselor, 1990-2006. CONFERENCES: IEEE Deans Summit 2003, Fostering Campus Collaborations (www.ieee.org/web/education/fcc/index.html), Invited Presenter, 2003; 2003 IEEE International Conference on Communications (ICC 2003), Reviewer and Program Technical Committee, Member, 2003; ICC 2001, Reviewer and Program Technical Committee, Member, 2001; IEEE Global Communications Conference 2002 (Globecom 2002), Reviewer and Member Program Technical Committee, 2002; Optical Networking Symposium, Reviewer and Program Technical Committee, Member, 2003; IEEE Frontiers in Education Conference (IEEE FIE 2001), Reviewer, 2001. REPRESENTATIVES: Membership and Geographic Activities Board (MGAB), EAB Representative, 2008; Regional Activities Board (RAB), EAB Representative, 2007; IEEE-USA Committee on Communications and Information Policy, Region 6 Representative, 2005; San Fernando Valley Engineers Council, San Fernando Valley Section Representative to the Board of Directors, 2007-08.  AWARDS: IEEE Region 6 Outstanding Community Service Award, 2004; LEOS Sacramento, Most Improved Chapter, 2005-06, 1991-92; LEOS Sacramento, Largest Membership Growth, 1992-93; CSU Sacramento Student Branch, RAB Membership Growth, Region 6, 2002-03; IEEE CSU Northridge Student Branch, Extraordinary Support Award, 2007; IEEE CSU Sacramento Student Branch, Outstanding Branch Counselor Award, 1999; IEEE CSU Sacramento Student Branch, Outstanding Service Award, 1998.

IEEE Accomplishments – As the IEEE Region 6 Central Area Chair I:

• Developed industry support for IEEE members
• Organized career fairs to serve the career needs of IEEE members
• Created templates for Area meetings and the Roles and Responsibilities of Area Chairs that were incorporated into the Region 6 Operations Manual

Technical Activities: 

• Founded, and led the IEEE LEOS Chapter in the Sacramento Valley Section which received awards as the Most Innovative Chapter (twice) and Membership Growth when I was Chair www.ieee.org/organizations/pubs/newsletters/leos/dec05/sacramento.html

Student Activities:

As Branch Counselor, Section Student Activities Chair, and Area Student Activities Chair for over 16 years:

• Guided Student Branches to organize Student Professional Awareness Conferences
• Inspired Student Branch Officers to remain active and transition to Section level leadership roles
• Developed and supported a Student Design Contest (unique to Central area)
• Promoted membership and retention
  • CSUS Student Branch received the 2003 RAB Membership Award for Region 6
  • CSUN Student Branch received the Best Student Branch award in Region 6 in 2006 and 2007

 Pre-University Activities:

• Contributed to the TISP and Try Engineering initiatives on the IEEE EAB
• Recognized with the Region 6 Community Service Award in 2003 for my leadership in promoting pre-engineering programs with teachers in K-12

Statement – I have served the IEEE in leadership roles on the EAB and at the Chapter, Section, Area and Regional levels.  I understand the challenges facing the IEEE, and will use my extensive experience working with several organizations, and non-profit boards to serve you effectively.

If elected as the IEEE Region 6 Delegate-Elect/Director-Elect I will:

• Strengthen Sections to proactively serve the professional and career needs of members
• Emphasize strategic planning, teamwork and leadership development for Section Officers
• Support interactions between IEEE and industry to enhance the profession and support member activities
• Provide prudent fiscal leadership, monitor, evaluate and deliver programs of value to our members
• Present the Region’s needs effectively on the Board of Directors
• Enhance awareness of engineering in pre-college students and especially women and minorities

Together, we can develop and sustain our membership base; increase awareness and industry support for IEEE members’ activities, and continue to reinforce key benefits that are valued by our members. It is an honor and a privilege to be nominated and I would appreciate your vote.